It's not uncommon for football players to use the week's leading up to the Super Bowl as a platform to help garner attention for causes that are meaningful to them. Some will make a point to talk about their charities, Twitter followers or simply bask in the limelight.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) and San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver (29) exchange words during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

While Culliver claims he didn't think the remarks would've gained as much popularity as they did and the comedian admits to trying to bait him with a controversial question, in many ways this Super Bowl is a step in the right direction for at least bringing the subject to the forefront of conversations.

Earlier this season Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe made national headlines when he wrote a letter to a Maryland lawmaker because the lawmaker requested to the Ravens owner that Ayanbadejo not share his opinion about supporting marriage equality. This is a topic that players in locker rooms have shied away from and is a subject that Ayanbadejo said started conversations with teammates, even though he said it made many of them uncomfortable.

Ayanbadejo has two children with his long-time girlfriend and says his views are shaped by how he grew up with his mom in a housing project in Chicago. He insists that he will continue to use the NFL platform to raise awareness for the issue.

It'll be interesting to see how many, athletes in other sports make headlines regarding the same topic as their seasons unfold. Certainly the NFL's popularity gives these athletes a large audience, but it's safe to say the conversations have started. How quickly they suppress is something we'll have to wait and see.

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